Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/474

 372 THE LI^'ES FORMED EOUXD OXFORD Christ Church Meacl, that is next to Grand Pont Street. Whether or not the sketch given of the hnes round Oxford is a tracing plan of an original object not carried out, or an accurate drawing of lines that were made (which I beheve to have been the case), cannot now be positively ascertained. It seems certain that, if it were the original intention, it was not immediately and fully acted on, but that the lines were of gradual growth, modified and improved from time to time, as would appear from a notice, that in September and October thoughts were entertained of new fortifying the city (the works that were made not giving satisfaction) ; an attempt was made to raise new sums of mone}" for the purpose, which was, with some delay and difficulty, done ; and, in May, 1644, the scholars were newly arranged in battahons with the city levies, under the Earl of Dover. On the 14th May, "the regiment of scholars and strangers, newly listed and raised, mustered in jIagdalen College Grove, to the number of 630, or thereabouts, giving very great content- ment to the spectators, in seeing so many young men so docile ; " and they, from day to day, manoeuvred before the kino; in Christ Church Mead, and on Bullinodon Green, And now in May, 1644, their prowess was tried for the first time. On the 29th, being the Eve of the Ascension, the Earl of Essex and Sir W. Waller, coming with their forces from Abingdon, over Sandford Ferry, and so through Cowley, and over Bullingdon Green (that they might go towards Islip), faced the city for several hours, whilst their carriages (ordnance) sKpped away behind them. Wood says it gave some terror to Oxford, and therefore two prayers, by his Majesty's appoint- ment, were made and published, one for the safety of his Majesty's person, the other for the preservation of the University and city, to be used in all churches and chapels in them. In the afternoon of the same day, the scholars and citizens made an head, and marched out of the works at St. Clements, to see what they could do against the enemj^'s scouts that rode up and down. At length, meeting together, there was a skirmish between them, and two or three on each side slain or wounded; some of the Parhamentaries came in parties towards the works ; but " whilst they were in that bravado, a shot was made by Sir John Haydon, from one of the great ordnance standing on the said bulwarks, which fell so happly amongst them (though at a great distance), that it